Former Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has urged President Bola Tinubu to step away from the 2027 presidential race, saying doing so would be a politically wise decision.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Friday, Baba-Ahmed argued that President Tinubu’s chances in the next election are slim, suggesting that the warning signs are already visible.
“I expect Tinubu to throw in the towel if he is that smart politician that he turns out to be,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed offered a critical view of Tinubu’s political journey, labeling him a “super smart politician” who has been involved in determining presidential candidates since 2007.
According to him, Tinubu’s influence has peaked with the 2023 election.
“He skipped 2007 and jokingly made Atiku (presidential) candidate, made Ribadu and somebody 2011, made Buhari in 2015, Buhari won, and then skipped 2019 and they stole 2023. If he is that smart, everything is there for him that he’s going to lose 2027,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He went further to predict that Tinubu would fail to deliver on his campaign promises, arguing that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has a track record of underperformance.
“Buhari did not develop Nigeria, Buhari did not provide security, Buhari did not fight corruption. Neither will Tinubu ever do this,” he added.
According to Baba-Ahmed, the APC is likely to lose power in the next general election, as Nigerians are gradually waking up to the need for true democratic participation.
“I see APC losing this election. I see Nigerians somehow uniting, listening to what someone like me is saying that if you cannot practice this, democracy is not for you, and then Nigerians will decide to come out and practice democracy for the first time, and then bad leadership will begin to have no hiding place in Nigeria,” he said.
He also hinted that there are already strong potential challengers who could unseat Tinubu in 2027, though he did not mention specific names.
